My gardening program library is full of Ken Druse horticulture playscript . Rich with his gorgeous exposure and well informed horticultural text , they were some of the most influential horticulture Holy Writ for me , as I a started rebuild this older menage garden of 4 coevals just when I grease one’s palms the house back from my family . Even today , it ’s a little ridiculous how many influences I can trace back to his books , in finicky his bookTHE COLLECTORS GARDEN(now available in softback book ) , which introduce me to many of the uncommon trees and plant ( and finally , to almost all of the folks profiled in it as now most have become my supporter ) . How many book and generator can do that ?
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no matter of the fact that Ken ’s publicist approached me to see if I would review his latest book – THE NEW SHADE GARDENjust put out by Stewart , Tabori and alteration , but I go for that it seems obvious that this would be no trouble for me . Sorry – no giveaway , usually they charge us bloggers two but some publishers do n’t do this , and well , this is one book that I want to keep . If you love books , this is a large Word , hardback and full of both terrific message found in few other record book , and many , beautiful double – after all , it is a Ken Druse Holy Writ , an author and plantsman who has that special talent to combine a lovemaking for ocular language with the mind of a plant somebody . This book is the staring addition for both the mentation nurseryman and for the visual nurseryman . It ’s sort - of who Ken Druse is himself , which get the content in this tome not only original , it makes it truly unquestionable .
Ken ’s books though are not needfully for the plant geek , they appeal to a much broader interview , perhaps broader than any other garden writers creating volume today , as he actually think holistically about his books ( being a designer , photographer and plant someone himself ) . His books are never dumbed down ( except for that chapter claim called GOT SHADE , but I ’ll find fault that on his editor program ) , or over - simplified , – tang nurseryman will find these Book interesting and helpful . There are extremely interesting plant life ( you will want to make plant lists ) , flux with common plants that are often used in smart elbow room , all exemplify in beautiful photography which by itself merits focus ( one of these days , a verandah or museum will sport his workplace , as first and foremost , Ken Druse is a talented artist and photographer and an ammonia alum of RISD . ) .
This book I believe marks a big passing for Ken though , and although he would never admit it , I know just how challenging and hard it can be to leave behind with child data format , traditional photography which was Ken ’s expertness back 20 years ago . As digital picture taking came along , few creative person were able to make that changeover elegantly , either holding on to the old , slower medium , or just giving up . I can only assume that Ken had some hurdle to overcome give my noesis of his immense library of chute and transparency which many of us in the plant world knew that he kept and protected . Somehow , he made this leap , and whether it was with trust or fear , this Holy Scripture proves that his natural endowment and fine art jumped along with him .
I so appreciate that his publisher continues to keep the larger , hard - screening data format of his past Holy Writ . As a vivid designer myself , the typography is heedful and elegant , as is the book layout which returns to Ken ’s original and more familiar model of grids and full Thomas Nelson Page images which both set a pure tone , and extend the referee on a journeying where they can both read good subject matter , and be inspire by imagery . A uncommon undertaking , and one which few books do very well .
In a metre when most gardening record which focus on a thematic capable default to an encyclopedic review of plants , Ken ’s books never take this route , a fact which I too am most grateful for . These books might invoke to the meta geek or beginning nurseryman , but in a earth of Google Images and Pinterest , who needs an encyclopedia of all the plant one can maturate in the shade . I want interesting planting combinations , I want to see other citizenry gardens , and I really want to see what a plant looks like in dissimilar options .
Ken has repurposed a few images from his past books ( in particular , the famous moss steps designed by Fletcher Steele in the Mrs. Robert Stoddard Garden – stair which I spend 6 year of my life on weeding by mitt as this was my first job back in 1970 - something ) , but each image was thoughtfully curated , obviously by Ken , so it works .
If you are thinking that this second spook horticulture book from Ken till just ingeminate much of what be in his first Koran , loose , it does n’t . In the 1990 ’s , hosta , hellebores and genus Epimedium were just coming onto the gardening view , so of course , his first record book introduced us to seed and ways to plant these woodland plants in way that no other book ever did , but THE novel SHADE GARDEN , is just that – a newfangled book , with new estimate , and young , relevant issue . Ken share cerebration on many subjects from world thawing to sensible advice for water - wise gardens – he even addresses or shall I say , terpsichore between controversial subject such as the use of compost tea and sustainability , without really recommend one side of the political issue or the other – he just thankfully put up facts from both sides . Maybe our Senate can use a little Drusian injection , as often there is no correct result to many of this issues .
In the closing , THE novel SHADE GARDEN should offer up both breathing in to both the new and the experienced nurseryman , as well as providing ocular delight to the esthetic aesthete .
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